The fact that this game is a licensed X-Men title means it will
sell by the bucket-load. But the fact that it's actually a great
game as well means that X-Men fans who buy it will be glad they
did.

Although it's being promoted as a role-playing game (RPG), it's
really more of an all-out action-fest with RPG trimmings. Most of
your time at the control pad will be spent belting up Magneto's
minions, presented from an isometric viewpoint. As you progress
you'll be rewarded with experience points and items, allowing you
to build up your favourite characters.

The game makes extensive use of cell-shading to give it a comic
book feel, and the fact that you can trash most of the environment
will appeal to more destructive gamers.

You start the game as Wolverine, but quickly pick up fellow
team-mates as the game progresses, eventually leaving you with as
many as four X-Men on screen at any one time. Most of the stars
from the comics are on the roster: Storm, Rogue, Cyclops,
Nightcrawler, Gambit and Jean Gray, to name a few. Each of these
has special abilities which can be combined with other players'
abilities to leave your opponents dazed and confused. Due to the
number of X-Men and enemies on screen at once, as well as the
slightly cumbersome camera, the action can get a little confusing,
but not to the point of frustration.

Single-player is fun, but the game truly shines with four people
in the mix. It's a little easier, but there's still about 20 hours
of co-operative campaigning to be had. Teaming up for super combos
is even simpler and it's possible for some characters to pick up
others and throw them. There's nothing like a Wolverine furball
flying through the air to ruin Magneto's day.

Endgame: A great single-player game that gets
even better with a few pals.

Crash Twinsanity

Runs on: PS2, Xbox

Price: $69.95

Classification: G

Rating: * * *

Since developers Naughty Dog abandoned Crash, a string of
developers have unsuccessfully tried to recapture the magic on
next-generation platforms. Twinsanity almost succeeds.

The barmy bandicoot must team with his sworn enemy to combat a
new common threat: the evil Eagle Twins. Instead of playing the
villain, Dr Neo Cortex is the bumbling sidekick. Cortex is used by
Crash as a weapon, snowboard, sledgehammer and tool - and even
hurled over chasms to trigger switches.

The game's highlight is the charming character design and
humour, no doubt assisted by the involvement of Ren and Stimpy
producer Jordan Reichek.

Twinsanity offers plenty of platform jumping and crate smashing,
but the game is at its best when providing new challenges. In the
most entertaining levels, Cortex must be protected as he bumbles
into various obstacles and traps. Other stages mimic Super Monkey
Ball: Crash and Cortex amusingly rumble, and players can roll them
around to collect items.

The puzzles are clever and the variety is terrific, but it can
be too tough and frustrating, particularly for the young audience
the game would otherwise appeal to.

Crash is an overly frail character, instant deaths are common
and an unreliable camera makes jumps trickier than need be. Worse
still, restart points are badly positioned. Players are forced to
replay large sections of the game until perfected, causing much
cursing and gnashing of teeth.

Since Crash Bandicoot reigned as the unofficial PlayStation
mascot, the likes of Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper and Ratchet and
Clank have taken character action games in bold, interesting new
directions. Crash is now trying to keep up, but the furry funster's
golden years might be behind him.

Endgame: Crash fans are offered many
interesting new challenges, but frustration robs Twinsanity of much
of its fun. - Jason Hill